Shuttle feeler for looms



1931- E. c. NICHOLS 1,820,821

SHUTTLE FEELEH FOR LOOMS Filed July 26, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inverfl'or.

3 Edward GNichols Wm; M 22; n s.

Fatented AugQZS, 1931 1 omrso STATES PATENT OFFICE EDWARD o. NICHOLS, or nrronflvmssnonosn'rrs, Assrenon T DRAPER CORPORA- TION, or HOPEDALE, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION or MAINE SHUTTLE FEELER FOR LOOMS Application filed. July 26,

This invention relates to the shuttle feeler j mechanism on aweft replenishing loom and has for its object to provide a simple and efi icient construction in which the parts are not likely to become disengaged or get out of order. r

The nature and objects. of the invention will appear more fully from the accompanying description and drawings'and will be particularly pointed out in the claims.

' As the general construction and operation ofthis type of loom is well known and familiar to those skilled in the art, and as the invention is entirely concerned with-the shuttle feeler mechanism, it is only necessary here to illustrate and describe those parts of a loom directly concerned with a preferred form of the present invention.

In the drawings:

form of the construction showing the parts as they stand in normal position during the 1 running of the loom.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing v the shuttle feeler mechanism in the position assumed when the shuttle feeler is rendered active.

- Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the parts in the position assumed when an improperly boxed shuttle engages the shuttle feeler and moves it forwar In a weft replenishing loom, it is usual to employ a so-called shuttle feeler which, when weft replenishment is called for, is moved into a position opposite the end of the shuttle box at the transfer side of the loom. If the shuttle is properly boxed, the shuttle feeler is not engaged when the lay heats up, but if the shuttle is not properly boxed, it engages the shuttle feeler when the lay beats up and moves the shuttle feeler forward, setting into operation means to render the weft replenishing mechanism inactive so as to prevent a smash or injury to the mechanism of the loom due to an improperly boxed shuttle. y

It is found in practice that under some circumstances the shuttle feeler of the type commonly employed may become separated from its operating mechanism when struck and Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a preferred 1930. Serial No. 470,910.

moved forward by an improperly boxed shuttle and the chief object of the present invention is to provide a form of construction in which any danger from this cause is prevented.

In the construction illustrated, the shuttle feeler 1 is of an ordinary type somewhat hook-shaped and transversely pivoted at 2 on the loom frame 3 so as to swing toward and from the lay 4. This shuttle feeler has projecting transversely therefrom a stud 5 by means of which its swinging movement is imparted to it. A starter arm comprising two sections 6 and 7 bolted together at 8 so as to be longitudinally adjustable is transversely pivoted on the loom frame at 9 forward of the shuttle feeler and projects rearward toward the shuttle feeler. The usual pivot for this starter arm is a starter rod which, when weft re plenishment is to take place, is given a counterclockwisemovement. Normally the starter arm stands in the lower position shown in Fig. 1, but when the starter rod is moved,

, it swings to an upper position shown in Figs.

2 and 3 and this swingingmovement from the lower to the upper position is utilized to render the shuttle feeler active.

In thisinvention a lever indicated generally at 10 is transversely pivoted at 11 onthe rearward end of the starter arm. One arm 12 of this lever projects rearward from the starter arm and is bifurcated and straddles the stud 5 on the shuttle feeler. The other arm '13 of the lever projects generally forward of the pivot 11 and is hook-shaped to receive one end of the spring 14 extending to a suitable fixed point on the loom frame. A stop lug 15 on the starter arm 6 overhangs the lever rearward of its pivot 11 and thus limits the upward movement of the bifurcated arm of the lever. The spring 14 holds the lever against the stop 15 and thus normally maintains the lever rigid with the starter arm, although permitting it to swing yieldingly on its pivot away from the stop.

The spring 14 also acts to hold the starter arm 6 and the lever 10 yieldingly in the normal or lower position shown'in Fig. 1.

The operation of the mechanism will be apparent. The parts stand normally as sei projecting rearward and straddling the stud shown in Fig. 1. When, however, weft re-f on the feeler, a 'stop on the starter arm to plenishment is called for and the shuttle feeler is to be rendered active the starter arm is swung'to its upper position shown in Fig. 2 andthusmyreason of theengagement of the ;hifurcated'end 12 ofitheilever .10 with any otherdesiredzehange in the qperationzof the-loom. v.lDnring :this forward swinging movement of the slnittle feeler,':the:'starter arm. remains in its upper {position but ?tl16 lever =1'0swings on its pivot-against the 521C- tion oft-hespringtltand :the :parts move (into the position-suehsas:shownin Big. 3. v

It will be seen that the construction issueh that sit sis impossible Y for the stud 5 to 'become disengaged from the bifurcated end of the lever '10 lilnd. that :an I operative connection betwe enathe: starter arm: and the: shuttle feeler is maintained urnder "all possible conditions. El here is-tlius PIESfiillBGdritiSliflljlB and-effecti-ve, mechanism. for woperating :the shuttle feeler zand insuring the EHIZuiHi-JGIIQEDQBfOf zthe operating eonnec-tions under all cenditions;

RHazving thuszc escribed thevinvention vhat 1S=Gl21i1l19d as new andidesired :to be secured by Letters :Patent, zisvz;

' r1. lanai-loom, a shuttle feeler :transversely pivoted on ethewloom frame to ESKVHIg' toward and from thewlay, astud gpre ecting-transversely 'fronnthe feeler', a'rearwardprojecting starter armitran'sverselyipivoted'ontlie frame forwartl-ofithe shuttle feeler toswing from a normal lower zposition to an upper position when the feeler is to be rendered active, a lever transversely pivoted on 'tliezstarter arm having one .t'llhwbifUFCflt-Ctl and projecting rearward'and; straddlingithestudon the, feeler,'a'st'op on the starterarm Etorlimit the up iward movem ertt ofithe h ureatediarm of the .lGVfilZ and in spring engaging. theAlever-and acting to holdit 'yieldingly against-thestop. Q. In aloom,-:a shuttle ifeeler transversely pivoted on the loom frame to swingtoward andfrom the lay. stud projecting transversely .from the feeler, a rearward projecting starter "transversely pivoted -on 'tlle frame forward of the shuttle Efeeler ito swing from anormalf low-ergposition to-an upper position when the feeller :is to the rendered active/ya Elmer-transversely pivoted on the starter armhaving one armrbifurca-ted and limit the upward movement of the bifurcated arm of the lever, and a spring connecting the lever to the loom frame acting to hold the lever yieldinglyagainst the stop and the starter arm 'yieldingly: in its Flower position. '3. In a loom, a shuttle feeler transversely pivoted on the loom frame to swing toward and from the my; *a stud projecting transversely from the feeler ,-a rearward projecting starter arm transversely pivoted on the frame forward-of the shuttle feeler to swing from a normal lower position to an upper position when the "feeler is to be rendered active, 1a ilever transversely pivoted on-the starter arm having one arm bifurcated and projecting rearward and straddling thez-stud on-=the feeler andfmeans acting :normallyto maintainthe lever rigid with thei-starterzarm and permitting the lever to swing yield'ingly on {its pivot without disengagement from the stud whenthe starter arm'iis in its upper positioniand the v'feeler is swung forward. I

In testimony rwhereof, '1 {have signed any name I to this specification.

EDWARD e. NICHOLS.

iiim

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